Residents won't be able to picnic at Hopatcong State Park or renew their driver's licenses or get their vehicles inspected Saturday at the state Motor Vehicle agency in Randolph due to Gov. Chris Christie's executive order as of midnight Friday that shut down non-essential government services because a 2018 state budget had not been reached.

The shutdown of state parks, state beaches and other state-run traditional recreation areas that people want to enjoy over a pre-holiday weekend is due - according to the executive order - to the Democrat-controlled state Assembly's inaction on the budget, which by constitutional mandate must be achieved by June 30.

Some good news: The lottery and New Jersey casinos will remain open.

Christie, blaming the inaction on Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, has called an emergency session of the Legislature for Saturday to try to reach an accord that won't involve the shutdown extending into next week. The last government shutdown, because of the failure to adopt a state budget, was in 2006 under then-Gov. Jon Corzine.

State Assemblyman Anthony Bucco and his father, state Sen. Tony Bucco, had planned to attend on Saturday the popular Freedom Festival Parade in Randolph, sponsored by the Randolph Kiwanis. Instead, as of 9 a.m., they were en-route to Trenton.

"I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get government open again but the Democrats are literally in a major fight over this," said Assemblyman Bucco, a Republican. "As of 11:30 p.m. last night, no one was budging. It's very frustrating and not a good thing for the people of New Jersey."

"There are so many things that will be impacted," Bucco said. He added that he likes Prieto, but said it's the Democratic speaker's job to "bring the party together" so that a budget can be reached. "You can't hold the state and the budget hostage," Bucco said.

Many parks in Morris County are owned by the county or the federal government - such as Jockey Hollow and Fort Nonsense - and would not be affected. But Lake Hopatcong State Park and its beach is closed; residents living around the lake, however, would be free to recreate on the lake. In Morris County, review hearings for defendants lodged overnight in the Morris County jail will still be conducted Saturday.

Below is the text of a release issued by the governor's office.

Executive Order 228 - Declaring a state of emergency and maintaining that essential state government services continue operating for the people of New Jersey, as the failure of the Legislature to act on a Fiscal Year 2018 State Budget by tonight’s constitutional deadline forces the closure of state government.

“This order is necessary to maintain the protection, safety and well-being of the people of New Jersey while I attempt to convince the Legislature to send me a fiscally responsible budget that I can sign and re-open New Jersey’s government, ” said Governor Christie. “This was completely avoidable. But Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto needlessly stalled the budget process, forcing the closure of New Jersey government and inconveniencing everyone living in and visiting our state.”

Included among the essential functions that will remain in operation: State Police, state correctional facilities, key child welfare services, state hospitals and treatment facilities, NJ TRANSIT, and operations linked to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, including certain environmental and health monitoring. The state closure also will NOT impact the State Lottery, casinos and racetracks. For details on non-essential services that will be closed as well as operations that will remain open, check the website of that department or agency.

Department of Environmental Protection:All state parks, recreation areas, forests, and historic sites, including Island Beach State Park and Liberty State Park, will be closed; all public events within state parks and historic sites will be cancelled. The following will also be closed: permitting offices for Air, Historic Preservation, Land Use, Site Remediation, Solid Waste, and Water Supply; Green Acres and Blue Acres offices; Office of Dispute Resolution; Office of Permit Coordination; most of the Division of Fish & Wildlife (Wildlife Management Areas and on-line services will not be impacted); NJ Geologic Survey; and Rebuild by Design projects.

Department of Transportation: Construction will continue, as will emergency repairs and some roadside safety services. The rest areas on I-295 in Deepwater, Salem County and on I-80 in Knowlton, Warren County, will be closed.

Department of Law & Public Safety:Juvenile Justice Commission operations, State Medical Examiner Offices, and other public safety operations will continue, but some administrative offices will be closed.

Department of Health: The public will not be able to obtain copies of birth and marriage certificates, or copies of adoptees’ original birth certificates. No new certifications or renewals will be issued for EMTs, paramedics or Certified Nursing Assistants.

New Jersey Department of Labor:Unemployment Insurance and disability determination services will remain operational. Temporary Disability Insurance claims, Wage and Hour claims, and Family Leave Insurance claims may be filed, but they will not be processed. One Stop Career Centers (state not county services) will be closed; Workers Compensation Courts will be closed. Division of Vocational and Rehabilitation Services will be closed.

Department of Children and Families:Child abuse hotlines, protection services and response teams will continue to operate. Schools for children with special needs will remain open.

Department of the Treasury: July 1 pension checks have been processed and mailed. Taxation call centers and walk-in facilities will be closed. The Division of Risk Management will be closed, however the scheduling of medical appointments, treatments and services for injured workers will remain ongoing. The Division of Pensions and Benefits will be closed, although it will continue payment of health provider claims and life claims, and continue to process changes to family status for health benefits.